Sleeping apparatus

ABSTRACT

A bedding apparatus has an inflatable base and a sleeping bag. The sleeping bag has a base portion and a cover that define a sleeping space between the base portion and the cover. The sleeping bag is supported by the base. The base can be folded into a different configuration and retained in this folded configuration for use as a different article of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to sleeping apparatus, and inparticular, to sleeping assemblies that can be easily and convenientlyfolded or collapsed to a smaller size for storage.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Portable mattresses, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, futons andsimilar bed-like products have become very popular in recent times.These products are often used as temporary beds and as such, are usefulin accomodating house guests, in camping or on short trips. Given theseuses, it is important for these temporary beds to be convenient to useand convenient to store.

[0005] Sleeping bags have long been a popular choice for campers andovernight guests. Sleeping bags provide a covering that functionseffectively as a blanket. In addition, sleeping bags are usually madeentirely from a soft cloth-like or similar material which are rathercomfortable for sleeping in, and which allows the sleeping bags to beeasily rolled up for storage. Unfortunately, most sleeping bags have asoft base which the user lies on, and a soft base can be uncomfortablewhen compared with a conventional mattress. This is because the user isessentially sleeping on the ground and can often feel the differentbumps and other rough spots on the ground.

[0006] Sleeping mats are similar to sleeping bags except that nocovering is provided. Thus, sleeping mats not only suffer from the samedrawbacks as sleeping bags, but also do not provide any blanket orcovering.

[0007] Portable inflatable mattresses provide a firmer base for the userto sleep on, so the user does not feel like he or she is sleeping on theground. In addition, the inflatability of these portable mattressesallows them to be deflated and then folded into a small configurationthat is easy to move around and to store. Unfortunately, most portableinflatable mattresses do not provide any blanket or covering.

[0008] Futons are arguably more comfortable than inflatable mattresses,sleeping bags and sleeping mats because they are actually very similarto a mini-mattress. Unfortunately, futons do not provide any blanket orcovering, and cannot be folded or collapsed so that they become bulkyand therefore difficult to move around and to store.

[0009] Thus, there still remains a need to provide temporary beddingthat are comfortable, convenient to use, and easy to store.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a beddingapparatus that is comfortable to the user.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide abedding apparatus that is convenient to use and easy to store.

[0012] In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, thepresent invention provides a bedding apparatus that has an inflatablebase and a sleeping bag. The sleeping bag can have a base portion and acover that define a sleeping space between the base portion and thecover. In one embodiment, the base portion of the sleeping bag isattached to the top surface of the inflatable base. In anotherembodiment, the base is retained inside the sleeping bag. The base canbe folded into a different configuration and retained in this foldedconfiguration for use as a different article of use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bedding apparatus according toone embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bedding apparatus according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base of the apparatus of FIG.2.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bedding apparatus according toyet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bedding apparatus according toyet another embodiment of the present invention, illustratingmodifications made to the apparatus of FIG. 4.

[0018]FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of bedding apparatus accordingto other embodiments of the present invention.

[0019] FIGS. 8-9 are perspective views illustrating how any of theembodiments of FIGS. 1-7 can be folded to create a different article ofuse.

[0020]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating how the apparatus ofFIGS. 2-3 can be folded to create a different article of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The following detailed description is of the best presentlycontemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description isnot to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purposeof illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. Thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0022]FIG. 1 illustrates a bedding apparatus 20 according to oneembodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 20 has a base 22 anda bag 24 that can be removably attached to the base 22. The base 22 andbag 24 can both be provided with similar configurations so that theapparatus will appear to be unitary structure after the base 22 and bag24 have been attached. The base 22 is inflatable, and is made from aninflatable material (e.g., PVC, leather and nylon) that has an interiorchamber for receiving air or fluid that is introduced through an airinlet 26. Another example of a possible material for the base 22 is asoft fabric that is lined with a plastic coating. In this regard, thebase 22 can be similar to a conventional inflatable mattress.

[0023] The bag 24 can be similar to a conventional sleeping bag. In thisregard, the entire bag 24 is preferably made from a soft cloth-likematerial, and can include soft paddings, down and any other conventionalmaterial that is typically used to provide sleeping bags with a soft andfluffy feel. The bag 24 has a base portion 28 and a cover 30 that actsas a blanket. The length of the cover 30 is shorter than the length ofthe base portion 28 so that the user can place his or her head on theexposed portion 32 of the base portion 28. The base portion 28 and thecover 30 define a sleeping space therebetween for the user's body. Thebag 24 can be formed by providing one large piece of material, andfolding the material into half so that one half forms the base portion28 and the other half forms the cover 30. The opposing edges, such as 34and 36, of the piece of material can be either permanently attached(e.g., by stitching), or removably attached (e.g., by VELCRO™ pads, azipper, hooks, and similar mechanisms).

[0024] The bag 24 can be removably attached to the base 22 by aremovable attachment mechanism, such as opposing VELCRO™ pads 38provided on the bottom of the base portion 28 and the top of the base22. Other removable attachment mechanisms can be used, including but notlimited to zippers, hooks and clasps, among others. Thus, the bag 24 canbe removed from the base 22 so that the bag 24 can be washed separatelyfrom the base 22.

[0025] The apparatus 20 can be used like a sleeping bag, with the addedbenefit that the base 22 can provide a firmer support for the back andbody. The firmness of the base 22 can also be adjusted by inflating ordeflating the base 22 more or less to provide a softer or firmer backsupport. The bag 24 can provide a soft base portion 28 that iscomfortable to lie on, and a cover 30 that can function as a blanket.The apparatus 20 can be easily and conveniently packed for storage byremoving the bag 24 from the base 22, and then folding the bag 24 in thesame manner as folding a conventional sleeping bag, and then deflatingthe base 22. Once the base 22 has been completely deflated, it can befolded into a small configuration. For example, a pouch (not shown) canbe provided for holding the folded bag 24 and folded base 22. The pouchcan then be conveniently carried around by the user.

[0026]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate another bedding apparatus 50 that issimilar to the apparatus 20 of FIG. 1. The apparatus 50 in FIGS. 2 and 3also has an inflatable base 52 and a bag 54 that can be the same as thebase 22 and bag 24, respectively, of FIG. 1, except for the differencesnoted below. One primary difference is that the base 52 can be providedwith a plurality of different segments 56 a-56 d, each having its owninterior chamber for holding air or fluid. Each segment 56 a-56 d can bemade from any of the materials, and has the same characteristics as, thebase 22 described above. In addition, each segment 56 a-56 d has its owncorresponding air inlet 58 a-58 d throughout which air or fluid can beintroduced and removed. Referring to FIG. 3, the base 52 can have asingle support board 60, with the segments 56 a-56 d secured (e.g., byglue, heat weld, etc.) to the bottom of the board 60. The bag 54 can beremovably attached to the board 60 of the base 52 using any of theremovable attachment mechanisms described above, or can be permenentlyattached (e.g., by glue, stitching, etc.) to the base 52 as shown inFIG. 2.

[0027] The plurality of different segments 56 a-56 d allows for the base52 to have varying firmness throughout. As a non-limiting example, theuser can inflate selected segments 56 a and 56 b more than the othersegments 56 c and 56 d, so as to obtain a firmer support for the back,neck and head regions than for the leg regions. The plurality ofdifferent segments 56 a-56 d also allows for the apparatus 50 to befoldable to form a different article of use, as explained in greaterdetail in connection with FIGS. 8-10 below.

[0028]FIG. 4 illustrates another bedding apparatus 70. The apparatus 70in FIG. 4 has an inflatable base 72 that is removably retained inside abag 74. The base 72 can be the same as the base 22 in FIG. 1. The bag 74has a base portion 76 that has an internal receiving space 78 definedtherein for receiving the base 72. The bag 74 also has a cover 80 thatcan be folded to cover the base portion 76. The opposing edges 82 and 84of the base portion 76 and the cover 80, respectively, can be removablyattached (e.g., by VELCRO™ pads, a zipper, hooks, and similarmechanisms). A sleeping space is defined between the cover 80 and thebase portion 76. An opening 86 can be provided along any edge of thebase portion 76 to access the internal space 78, so that the base 72 canbe slid through the opening 86 into the internal space 78.

[0029] A pillow 88 can be provided adjacent the top of the base portion76. The pillow 88 can be an inflatable pillow made of the same materialas the base 22 and attached (e.g., by sewing) to the base portion 76, orcan be a conventional soft cloth-like pillow attached (e.g., by sewing)to the base portion 76. If the pillow 88 is inflatable, the base portion76 can be provided with a pillow housing that is made of the samematerial as the base portion 76, with the pillow housing having aninterior accessed by an opening that can be closed by VELCRO™ pads, azipper or the like. The inflatable pillow 88 can then be inserted into,or removed from, the interior of the pillow housing via the opening. Thepillow 88 itself can be provided with an air inlet 90 through which airor fluid can be introduced or removed.

[0030] Thus, the apparatus 70 in FIG. 4 is very similar to the apparatus20 in FIG. 1, except that the apparatus 70 removably attaches the base72 and bag 74 in a different manner. In other words, the apparatus 20 inFIG. 1 removably attaches the bag 24 to the base 22 by using a removableattachment mechanism, while the apparatus 70 in FIG. 4 removablyattaches the bag 74 to the base 72 by removably retaining the base 72inside the base portion 76 of the bag 74. Otherwise, the construction,materials, features and uses for the bag 74 and the base 72 in theapparatus 70 of FIG. 4 is very similar to those for the bag 24 and thebase 22 in the apparatus 20 of FIG. 1.

[0031]FIG. 5 illustrates a bedding apparatus 100 that includes amodification that can be made to the apparatus 70 of FIG. 4. Theapparatus 100 in FIG. 5 is essentially the same as the apparatus in FIG.4, in that the apparatus 100 also has an inflatable base (not shown)that is retained inside the base portion 102 of a bag 104. The apparatus100 differs from the apparatus 70 in that the pillow 106 now extendsfrom the top edge 108 of the base portion 102. The pillow 106 can be aconventional soft cloth-like pillow attached (e.g., by sewing) to thetop edge 108 of the base portion 102. Alternatively, the pillow 106 canbe housed in a pillow housing that is made of the same material as thebase portion 102 and stitched to the top edge 108 of the base portion102, with the pillow housing having an interior accessed by an openingthat can be closed by VELCRO™ pads, a zipper or the like. The inflatablepillow 106 can then be inserted into, or removed from, the interior ofthe pillow housing via the opening.

[0032]FIG. 6 illustrates another bedding apparatus 120. The apparatus120 in FIG. 6 has a inflatable base 122 that is removably retainedinside the sleeping space 124 defined by the base portion 126 and thecover 128 of the bag 130. The base 122 can be the same as the base 22 inFIG. 1, and the bag 130 can be the same as the bag 24 in FIG. 1. Theopposing edges 132 and 134 of the base portion 126 and the TM cover 128,respectively, can be removably attached (e.g., by VELCRO™ pads, azipper, hooks, and similar mechanisms) to enclose the sleeping space124. Thus, in this embodiment, the user actually lies directly on top ofthe top surface 136 of the base 122. For this reason, the top surface136 of the base 122 can be lined or otherwise provided with a fabricmaterial that is soft and pleasant to touch. A pillow 138 can be formedas part of the base 122, and is therefore inflatable together with thebase 122. In use, the user can insert the base 122 between the baseportion 126 and the cover 128, and then lie down on the base 122 betweenthe base portion 126 and the cover 128. To store the apparatus 120, theuser removes the base 122 from the interior (i.e., sleeping space 124)of the bag 130, and deflates the base 122. The user then folds the bag130 and the base 122, either separately or together.

[0033]FIG. 7 illustrates another bedding apparatus 150. The apparatus150 differs from the other embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-6 in that thebase and the bag is combined together. In particular, the apparatus 150has a base 152 that can be the same as the base 22 described above,except that the base 152 is not retained inside a bag. As a result, theuser will lie on the top surface 154 of the base 152 when using theapparatus 150. For this reason, the top surface 154 of the base 152 canbe lined or otherwise provided with a fabric material that is soft andpleasant to touch. In addition, an inflatable pillow 156 can be attachedto the top surface 154 of the base 152 (as shown in FIG. 7), or can beformed as part of the base 152 so that it is inflatable together withthe base 152. A cover 158, which is preferably made of the same materialas the bag 24 described above, is attached (e.g., by stitching) alongone side edge 160 to a side edge 162 of the base 152. The other edges164 and 166 of the cover 158 are releasably attached to the other edges168 and 170 of the base 152 by a releasable attachment mechanism 172. InFIG. 7, the releasable attachment mechanism 172 is a zipper, but othermechanisms such as hooks and clasps, and VELCRO™ pads, can also be used.In use, the user can partially separate the cover 158 from the base 152by releasing a certain portion of the attachment mechanism 172. The userthen crawls into the sleeping space defined between the base 152 and thecover 158. To store the apparatus 150, the user simply deflates the base152 and then folds the cover 158 together with the base 152. Thus, theapparatus 150 is more convenient and faster to use when compared withthe embodiments in FIGS. 4-6, but suffers from the drawback that thebase 152 is not covered or otherwise protected from the user or theexternal environment, so that it is easier for the base 152 to getdirty. On the other hand, the embodiments in FIGS. 4-6 all retain thebase inside the bag, so that the base is less likely to be dirtied bythe external environment and/or the user.

[0034] The inflatable nature of the base of the apparatus according tothe present invention allows the apparatus to be configured fordifferent uses other than for use merely as a temporary bedding. Forexample, FIG. 8 illustrates an apparatus 200 that has a base 202 and abag 204 that can be the same as any of the bases and bags for any of theembodiments above. A pillow 206 can be provided on one end of the base202. The base 202 is shown in FIG. 8 after it has been inflated. When inthe configuration shown in FIG. 8, the apparatus 200 can be used as atemporary bed in the same manner disclosed above for any of theembodiments in FIGS. 1-7. Alternatively, the base 202 of the apparatus200 can be folded in half, as shown in FIG. 9, so that the apparatus 200can now be used as a chair, with the pillow 206 functioning as a smallbackrest. Removable attachment mechanisms can be provided to retain thebase 202 in its folded position for use as a chair. For example,opposing VELCRO™ pads 208 can be provided on opposite ends of the bottomsurface 210 of the base 202 to removably attach the opposite ends of thebase 202. Alternatively, straps 212 can also be provided on oppositeends of the base 202 to removably attach the opposite ends of the base202. Thus, the apparatus 200 can serve a dual purpose in that it can beused as temporary bedding and as a chair, while being capable of beingdeflated, folded and collapsed into a small configuration for storage.

[0035]FIG. 10 extends the principles illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 evenfurther. The apparatus 220 in FIG. 10 can be similar to the apparatus 50in FIGS. 2 and 3 in that the base 222 can be provided in the form of aplurality of segments 224 a, 224 b and 224 c, and having a bag 236attached to the top of the base 222. The base 222 can be folded atlocations where adjacent segments meet. For example, the segment 224 bcan be pivoted upwardly (with respect to the segments 224 a, 224 c) atits opposite ends (see the locations 226 and 228) where the segment 224b is adjacent the segments 224 a and 224 c, respectively. The segment224 b can itself be folded at about the middle. One or more straps 230can be provided along the sides of the segments 224 a, 224 b, 224 c tosecure the segments 224 a, 224 b and 224 c at their desiredorientations. FIG. 10 illustrates the segments 224 a, 224 b, 224 cconfigured to resemble a recliner, with the segment 224 a acting as theseat, half of the segment 224 b acting as a recliner backrest, and thesegment 224 c acting as a base support on the other side of the seat(i.e., segment 224 a). Each of the segments 224 a, 224 b, 224 c can bethe same as any of the segments 56 a-56 d in FIGS. 2-3.

[0036] Thus, the present invention provides temporary bedding apparatusthat are more comfortable than sleeping bags and sleeping mats because(1) the inflatable base provides a back and body support whose firmnesscan be adjusted by the user, and (2) the inflatable base provides a moreeffective buffer between the user's body and the ground. In addition,the present invention provides temporary bedding apparatus that retainthe convenience afforded by conventional sleeping bags in that theapparatus of the present invention can be easily and conveniently foldedfor storage. The present invention affords yet another benefit in thatthe apparatus can be folded to create different articles of use.

[0037] While the description above refers to particular embodiments ofthe present invention, it will be understood that many modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanyingclaims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within thetrue scope and spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bedding apparatus, comprising: an inflatablebase having a top surface; a sleeping bag having a base portion and acover that define a sleeping space between the base portion and thecover; and wherein the base portion of the sleeping bag is attached tothe top surface of the base.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, furtherincluding means for removably attaching the base portion of the sleepingbag to the top surface of the base.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe base comprises a plurality of separate segments, with each segmentbeing inflatable independent of the other segments.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further including means for retaining the base in a foldedconfiguration.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, further including means forretaining each of the plurality of segments in different foldedconfigurations.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is made ofa PVC material.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bag includespadding.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover is removablyattached to the base portion.
 9. A bedding apparatus, comprising: asleeping bag having a base portion and a cover that define a sleepingspace between the base portion and the cover; and an inflatable basethat is retained inside the sleeping bag.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the base is retained inside the sleeping space.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the base portion has an interior spacethat retains the base.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the baseportion further includes an opening that accesses the interior space.13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the base comprises a plurality ofseparate segments, with each segment being inflatable independent of theother segments.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9, further including meansfor retaining the base in a folded configuration.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 9, further including a pillow attached to the base.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the cover is removably attached to thebase portion.
 17. A bedding apparatus, comprising: an inflatable basehaving a side edge, and an interior chamber that is filled with air; acover made of a fabric material, the cover having a side edge; asleeping space defined between the base and the cover; and means forreleasably attaching portions of the side edges of the base and thecover.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, further including a pillowattached to the base.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the basecomprises a plurality of separate segments, with each segment beinginflatable independent of the other segments.
 20. The apparatus of claim17, further including means for retaining the base in a foldedconfiguration.